Dry-pipe valve.



G. I. ROGKWOOD. DRY PIPE VALVE.` TPMGATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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GEORGE HOUKWOOD, Ol" WORCESTER, MASSMJHUSEITS,

DRY-PIPE VALVE.

To all whom fit magico/warn.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE l. RoeKwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have vented a new and vuseful .Improvement in Dry-Pipe Valves, of which the following is a specilication', accompanied, by drawings forming a part of the same, in which- Figure 1 re resents a vertical central sec tional view ol` a dry pipe valve embodying` my invention, and Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of the valve plate and rocking lever. Similar reference 'figures refer to Vsimilar parts in the ditl'erent views. f The object of my present invention is to provide an improved dry pipeUalve ada ted for use in a system of automatic sprink ers,

said valve being inserted in the water supply pipe to the sprinkler system, by which the pressure of water is resisted by an air pressure in the pipe between the dry pipe valve and the sprinklers, and my present invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 denotes a valve casingl inelosinga chamber containing a differential valve plate 2, preierably circular' in plan view and having a pivotal connect-ion at 3 with a rocking lever 4, ivoted Within the casing at and prov1 ed. with a counterbalancmg arm 6 having at its end a chamber 7 which is filled with a atch 12 slides vertically in a s eeve 13 inserted through an opening 14,in theupper.

Wall of the easing, said sleeve being su J- ported by a projecting shoulder 15 and hel in place by an annular nut 16 engaging the internal screw thread 17. The sleeve 13 contains a spiral spring 18 which exerts a downward pressure against the latch 12 and insures its engagement with the shoulder 11. The upper end of the latch 12 is provided with a ring handle/19 whi'cb'is disclosedby Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 3.

The

Patented March 9, mor.l

1907. Serial No. 376.922.

Ethe removal ol the cap 2() to enable the i latch to be hlted to release the lever 4.

j .\ttached to the bottom ot the casing 1 is i a pipe 21 leading from a source of water supply under pressure, and the casing is also provided at 22 with an opfening communicat- .ing with a series ol automatic sprinklers. -j lhe pipe. 21 is provided at its upper end with a valve seat 23 closed by the valve plate 2, and with an annular cup shaped flange 24 provided with a valve seat 25 ol" greater diameter than the valve seat 23 to receive. an annular ilexible valve 26 projecting from the edge ol the valve plate 2 and held between the valve plate and a clamping ring 27. The valve ring 27 has an outwardly provalve 26, in order to limit the upward bending movement of the annular valve 26. 'l`he annular valve 26 has a circular outer edge and the inner wall of the casing 1 is circular in cross section taken on a radial line from the axis 5 ol' the rotation oil the valve plate, so that during a swinging movement ol the valve plate 'l'rom its position shown in Fig. 1 to the position indicated by the; broken lines 29, Fig. 1, the annular valve 26 substantially iills the space within thecasing, the edge of the annular valve 26 being either in contact with the inner wall of the :asing or in proximity thereto.

The rocking lever 4 is provided willi laterally projecting arms 30 and 31 which extend over the top of the valve plate, with their outer ends in proximity to the uiper surface ol the valve -)late, so that a slight rocking motion ol' t ie valve plate on its )ivot 3 is permitted, but its rocking motion is limited by the arms 3U and 31.

W hen the valve plate 2 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the supply pipe 21 is closed, and the space between the valve plate and sprinklers is lilled with compressedair of sull licient pressure to hold the valve plate in its position, notwitl'istanding the water pressure in the pipe 21 against the underside of the valve plate. The dill'erenee in dian'leter beland the under surface subjected t-o pressure of water in the pipe 21 enables a given air pressure in the valve casing to withstand a greater water pressure in the supply pipe. By this means the flow of Water is prevented from enterinly the valve casing and flowing to the sprinklers, and the danger of freezing tween thenupper surface oithe valve plate is therefore lobvi'ated when the sprinklers vand their connecting pipes are placed in an exposed position. The Weight of the counterpoise and the Weight of the lever Lland valve plate 2 are so proportioned that when the valve plate is seated, in the position shown in Fig. i, the rocking lever is in a position of stable e uilibrium, but when the valve plate is raised through a certain portion of its rocking movement the counterpoise becomes o lerative and carries the valve plate into its l; evated position, as indicated by the broken .lines29. lfv thevvalve plate, liowever, be

raised only a short distance by a certain im nlse of water in the pipe 21 it will be caught y the latch 12 and the v-alve plate held from reseating itself, and supported in the position shown by the broken lines 32 to prevent its entirely closing. ln case the valve is thrown violently open'causing a heavy stroke of the connterpoise against the casing, any injurions effect upon the casing is prevented by means ofthe projecting boss 9 coming in contact with the casing and providing for a slight compression of the soft metal 8, thereby relieving the blow against the casing.

A. Water seal may be provided above the valve plate 2 from which, by the correspond- .ence in shape between the valve 2 and casing 1, Water will be carried into that portion of the casing inclosing the counterweight 8 as the valve plate 2 rises. By a proper proportioning of the lever l a dash pot action may be secured just before the valve plate 2 reaches the position shown by broken lines 22 in contactwith the easing, so that the speed of movement of the valve plate 2 in opening is arrested and the valve plate 2 gives no violent blow against the casing. 'i is action depends upon the circular shape both of the casing in cross section and of the valve plate, as shown in Fig. 2.

l claim,

l. In a dry pipe valve, the' combination with a casing having a Water inlet, of a rocking valve plate arranged to close said inlet, With its entire peri hery in contact with the interior wall of saidicasing during its rocking movement, thereby preventing passage of Water between said valve plate and said casing during said rocking movement.

2. ln a dry pipe valve, the combination with. a'casing prc'rimately circular in cross erases section having a chamber communicating therewith and a water inlet to said easing, of

a lever fulcrumed in said chamber, havingA one arm extending into said casingv and the' other arm provided with a counterweight extending into said chamber, a circular valve ,plate of approximately the diameter of said casing attached to said iirst ,arm 'and arranged to contact with a valve seat concentric with said inlet, said valve plate arranged to prevent the passage of Water between its edge and said casing While said valve is being raised, thereby carrying water in said casing into said chamber.

8. ln a dry pipevalve, the combination with a casing having a Water inlet, a lever fulcrumed in said casing carrying on one arm a valve plate for closing said inlet and on the other a counterweight to balance said valve plate, of a spring actuated latch in the path of said counterweight when said valve plate is lifted, arranged to engage said counter- Weight on its return before said valve plate is entirely closed.

li. A dryvpipe valve, compiisinga casin a lever fulcrumed Within said casing, a va ve plate carried by one end of. said lever, and a counterweight of. soft metal carried by the opposite end of said lever adapted toeontact with the casing .when said valve plate is opened.

5. A dry pipe valve, comprising a circular casing having awater inlet, a 'rocklng circular valve plate for closing said inlet, With its diameter approximately the diameter of thesaid casing into said chamber.

GE )RGE I. ROCKWOOD. Witnesses PENnLorE Consilina/ion, liUFUs B FOWLER.V 

